Human Reproduction, Vol. 14, No. 9, 2279-2285,
September 1999
© 1999 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Developmental capacity of damaged spermatozoa
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore
We report the first detailed and systematic study in a mammalian system to unravel the mystery of the beginnings of life. The fertilizing ability of damaged spermatozoa at various levels of disintegration (cellular and molecular) has been investigated in homologous (mouse) and heterologous (human spermatozoon, hamster oocyte) models. Live pups were produced after destruction of spermatozoa at various cellular and molecular levels followed by injection into oocytes. We demonstrate that with damaged spermatozoa, the key point in the fertilization process is the activation of the oocyte by injection of cytosolic sperm factor. A similar fertilization rate as that using live intact spermatozoa can be achieved following activation. However, the integrity of the genetic material influenced in-vitro development of the embryos and live fetuses. This study contributes to a better understanding of the fertilizing ability of damaged spermatozoa. These findings can be applied clinically to patients with necrozoospermia or very severe oligozoospermia and in wildlife research where damaged spermatozoa from rare species can be used to regenerate young, and hence propagate the species. Also implied is the possible contribution of sperm DNA strand breakage to early pregnancy loss.
Key words: apoptosis/cytosolic sperm factor/DNA damage/necrosis/oocyte activation
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
B. A. Didion, K. M. Kasperson, R. L. Wixon, and D. P. Evenson Boar Fertility and Sperm Chromatin Structure Status: A Retrospective Report J Androl, November 1, 2009; 30(6): 655 - 660. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. E. M. Lewis and I. M. Agbaje Using the alkaline comet assay in prognostic tests for male infertility and assisted reproductive technology outcomes Mutagenesis, May 1, 2008; 23(3): 163 - 170. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Perez-Crespo, P. Moreira, B. Pintado, and A. Gutierrez-Adan Factors From Damaged Sperm Affect Its DNA Integrity and Its Ability to Promote Embryo Implantation in Mice J Androl, January 1, 2008; 29(1): 47 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
I.M. Agbaje, D.A. Rogers, C.M. McVicar, N. McClure, A.B. Atkinson, C. Mallidis, and S.E.M. Lewis Insulin dependant diabetes mellitus: implications for male reproductive function Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2007; 22(7): 1871 - 1877. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Ahmady and E. Michael Successful Pregnancy and Delivery Following Intracytoplasmic Injection of Frozen-Thawed Nonviable Testicular Sperm and Oocyte Activation With Calcium Ionophore J Androl, January 1, 2007; 28(1): 13 - 14. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Oliva Protamines and male infertility Hum. Reprod. Update, July 1, 2006; 12(4): 417 - 435. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. K. McGinnis, L. Zhu, J. A. Lawitts, S. Bhowmick, M. Toner, and J. D. Biggers Mouse Sperm Desiccated and Stored in Trehalose Medium Without Freezing Biol Reprod, October 1, 2005; 73(4): 627 - 633. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Greco, F. Scarselli, M. Iacobelli, L. Rienzi, F. Ubaldi, S. Ferrero, G. Franco, N. Anniballo, C. Mendoza, and J. Tesarik Efficient treatment of infertility due to sperm DNA damage by ICSI with testicular spermatozoa Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2005; 20(1): 226 - 230. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Gandini, F. Lombardo, D. Paoli, F. Caruso, P. Eleuteri, G. Leter, R. Ciriminna, F. Culasso, F. Dondero, A. Lenzi, et al. Full-term pregnancies achieved with ICSI despite high levels of sperm chromatin damage Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2004; 19(6): 1409 - 1417. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
O. Lacham-Kaplan, J. Shaw, L. G. Sanchez-Partida, and A. Trounson Oocyte Activation after Intracytoplasmic Injection with Sperm Frozen Without Cryoprotectants Results in Live Offspring from Inbred and Hybrid Mouse Strains Biol Reprod, November 1, 2003; 69(5): 1683 - 1689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Baumber, B. A. Ball, J. J. Linfor, and S. A. Meyers Reactive Oxygen Species and Cryopreservation Promote DNA Fragmentation in Equine Spermatozoa J Androl, July 1, 2003; 24(4): 621 - 628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Benchaib, V. Braun, J. Lornage, S. Hadj, B. Salle, H. Lejeune, and J. F. Guerin Sperm DNA fragmentation decreases the pregnancy rate in an assisted reproductive technique Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2003; 18(5): 1023 - 1028. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Migliore, A. Naccarati, A. Zanello, R. Scarpato, L. Bramanti, and M. Mariani Assessment of sperm DNA integrity in workers exposed to styrene Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2002; 17(11): 2912 - 2918. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. A. Szczygiel and W. S. Ward Combination of Dithiothreitol and Detergent Treatment of Spermatozoa Causes Paternal Chromosomal Damage Biol Reprod, November 1, 2002; 67(5): 1532 - 1537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Ramos and A. M. M. Wetzels Low rates of DNA fragmentation in selected motile human spermatozoa assessed by the TUNEL assay Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2001; 16(8): 1703 - 1707. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Chatterjee, G.A. Haines, D.M.D. Perera, A. Goldstone, and I.D. Morris Testicular and sperm DNA damage after treatment with fludarabine for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2000; 15(4): 762 - 766. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||




